Viewership for NBC's "Football Night in America" and CBS' "The NFL Today" shows are down 7.2 percent and 5.7 percent respectively through the first nine weeks of the season. Fox's "Fox NFL Sunday" has seen a small (0.6) uptick in viewership from last season.

ESPN has seen significant changes in talent this season as Berman is gone from "Coundown" and Samantha Ponder - formerly the host of ESPN's "College GameDay" - has taken over. Ryan also joined the "Countdown" team after he was fired by the Bills.

Ex-Jet coach Rex Ryan is part of the new-look ESPN 'Sunday NFL Countdown' pre-game show this season. (Chris Pizzello/Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

Between the talent swaps and ESPN adding an extra hour to the two-hour "Countdown" broadcast, there may be more at play for viewership than just the national anthem protests. Still, ESPN coordinating producer Seth Markman told the Sporting News he has confidence in the program's success despite the ratings dip.

"We are thrilled with 'Countdown' this season, both in front of the camera and behind the scenes," Markman said in a statement to Sporting News. "Sam and Rex, our newcomers, developed an instant chemistry with Randy (Moss), Charles (Woodson), Matt (Hasselbeck) and the other members of the team. The show is much more conversational this year, which was one of our goals, and we continue to cover the entire NFL every week with expert analysis, terrific features and our well-connected reporters in the field."

But despite Markman's statement, the analysis and chit-chat between the new talent just hasn't been enough for ESPN to retain the same viewership through the first nine weeks. President Trump calling for a protest of the NFL over national anthem protests and lackluster games isn't helping either.